House on Haunted Hill Photo

Photographer’s Note

Ok, so it may not be haunted but I liked the idea of adapting the title from the 1959 film with Vincent Price.

In the sleepy town of Frankfort three Victorian homes sit perched on a hillside along Leelanau Avenue. Built a century to a century and a half ago they once had unobstructed views of Betsie Bay and Lake Michigan. Today, however, newer homes hinder the view down the hillside. All three are similar to one another and are wood-frame, clapboard and shingle houses of "some pretension".

This is the middle of the three homes in position and age, being built in 1895. Known as the James Lockhart House it is a "profusion of wings, bays, gables and towers extending from a rectangular core." As with the other two homes this one was once a summer retreat for its wealthy owners. Today is has been converted into a bed and breakfast.

You can see the steps leading to the first house while the other is on the other side of the line of trees. The other two are more impressive but this is the photo I liked of the bunch.

The other two homes along with this one continued on a trend of Victorian and Italianate home design through the 19th century. Examples can be seen all around the state and each example expresses its own location. Here wood makes up the primary building material since this was lumber country. In Ionia they used locally quarried Pink Ionia Sandstone (here and here). And elsewhere where bricks were the locally available material they were built of bricks. So in every location the same type of home may look completely different based on the local building traditions.

I'm sure this scene would be beautiful in the autumn and there was one other home I somehow missed when we left Frankfort. So I have reasons to return to this sleepy little town on the shores of Lake Michigan.

premels, nwoehnl, Michael_Gan, Tue, wilkinsonsg, kajenn, bertolucci, ChristianS, Rinie_Hoff, snuggleaphagus, sergecross, jhm, elihesamian has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

premels (2400) 2005-07-30 14:47

Hi Paul, Am I mistaken or is there a light purple cast ? I see it on the roof and the windows. It reminds me of another American house seen on TE :)
This one is impressive indeed and must be creaking like a haunted one frightening the guests.

nwoehnl (120) 2005-07-30 15:11

Hi Paul. Nice crisp photo of this mansion on the hill, with a good compositional layering from the sidewalk and stairs in the lower area, and then the main subject above. I also like the location, not least because it reminds me of the fact that I will be flying to the Canadian Rockies in September out of Frankfurt, Germany :) Well done, Paul. I put this one into the movie title theme.

Michael_Gan (2772) 2005-07-30 17:16

Paul, this could indeed be the setting of a movie. Perhaps not really horror, but Hitchcock would have loved it for a good thriller, I guess! This is a very sharp picture with a nice collection of textures and lines. I also like the fact that the sky is clouded, giving good lighting conditions in all parts of your picture. I still have to get used to seeing national flags hanging from houses on a normal day. I saw them quite a lot when I was in the USA some time ago, but we are not very used to that habit here in the Netherlands. Anyway, it leaves us no doubt where this picture was taken! Regards, Michael.

Tue (25608) 2005-07-30 17:25

Hi Paul,
Very nice view of this house indeed. The POV is nice so we have to look up to the house. Nice composition as well, good picture.
Groeten,
Lars

wilkinsonsg (8646) 2005-07-31 4:51

The dull day has given the colours a very rich quality - a sharp image which helps accentuate the numerous line details scattered through out the photo - a touch of purple fringing between sky and trees is not too much to worry about - well seen :)

kajenn (2325) 2005-07-31 22:04

Once more an outstanding house in wonderful colors, Paul. It seems Michigan has a lot of them - and preserve them well. I doesn't look haunted to me, in it's uplifted position, rather more inviting and I wouldn't mind a Bed & Breakfast here. It would be nice to be able to say that I stayed in Frankfort in Michigan (not Frankfurt am Main). The way you've placed it in front of the line of trees - only allowing for a small part of the dull sky - works very well and accentuates the nice colors. The steps in front and below helps in underlining the uplifted position and creates an air of being 'above it all'. Very well done!

john_c (24635) 2005-08-01 14:20

Hi Paul,
A fine composition portraying this stately old home. The definition is excellent, and the POV very effective. There are many lines for the eye to follow here, including the interesting rock wall, sidewalk, and stairs. The framing and cropping are tastefully accomplished for maximum impact. I like it.
John

bertolucci (11976) 2005-08-01 14:49

Hi Paul, this posting was a good oppertunity to have a look at the other two fine shots you refer to and which I missed due to me being abroad. I was also nice to read your lovely 'Great North' travelogue again.
The crispness and rich colours bring so much detail out that it's almost possible to feel the house and its typical architecture. I like the way you used the trottoir and the stairs to lead the eye to the house.
I would have liked a bit more colour in the sky for tonal balance but this is easily corrected with something like a gradient fill frame. Only a minor point. Very fine job!
Regards from Rotterdam, Bert.

ChristianS (2997) 2005-08-02 3:10

Hi Paul, nice composition on different levels culminating with the nice house on the hill. The good perspective helps the eye first towards the stairs and then the house on the hill. All the surrounding greenery creates a nice contrast and brings out the house. Nice work accompaniated by an (as always :) informative note.

Regards, Christian

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2005-08-02 5:03

What a lovely house, these are the kind that I like very much, especially with all those little bays? and porches.
I once spent a weekend in a house like that in Belgium, lovely!
When I started my singing lessons, I went to a house with a bay like that on the corner, and while waiting for my turn, I was sitting there and looking out over a canal in Delft, I LOVED that house. I had an option on it, if it ever came for sale. Much too expensive for me, but you could easily buy it with three people, and all have a good floor. But then I moved myself to a new house in Rotterdam, living on the bank of the Maas, is better than that canal.

snuggleaphagus (4138) 2005-08-03 14:05

The Haunting Of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson is one of my favorite books I think that's where the movie came from. This house is quite similar to what I had imagined when i read the book ( and slept with light on for a few nights afterwards).
The photo has a wonderful light and that brings about a certain level of crispness. the windows and their sahdes add to the 'hauntin' sensation. The steps are great leading into the property and the small wall.
Update
This your 200th photo congratulations.

sergecross (3438) 2005-08-04 7:29

Paul, nice shot. Beautiful architecture and the grass color looks great.
The point of view is very classic and the interesting sense forms a nice meaning. I like it.
Congratulations!
sergio Cross

jhm (82545) 2005-08-04 7:35

Hi Paul,
Congratulation with your 200th photo on TE, splendid architecture photograph a cottage styl in Europe from 1930, also the stair on the foreground is very beautiful placing.
Very well done Paul,
John.

billabongx (1561) 2005-08-05 3:01

Hi Paul,

I like this house...!!! In my country houses like this doesn't exist...
everything is pefect. colors, contrast, sharp....
the sky is just too white...

byebye
daniele

elihesamian (26091) 2005-08-10 1:31

congratulation on 200th shots by you that I apreciate all in your gallery,and also all your great useful comments ,critiques and notes,which most of them was wonderful!!!
Thanks for all things,Paul!

This is another great informative shot,what a nice building in point of architecture!...
excellent sharpness and quality,excellent details and colors which very well contrasted,Your POV also is great here,and I like the shot very much,Paul.
Best to You
(forgive me,for this late,I was out,I'm very busy,but try to keep connection,because I need to see my friends here:)

Best to You
M

Stepan (27175) 2005-08-26 15:54

For me a typical and traidtionnal US house !
I like the way you composed it with the green foreground and the small tree on the right side.
Stéphane